Noticeboard

Noticeboard

EMJINDINI: SABC 1S NEW DRAMA MINI SERIES

Date:Sep 12, 2018

EMJINDINI: SABC 1S NEW DRAMA MINI SERIES

EMJINDINI: SABC 1’S NEW DRAMA MINI SERIES ABOUT MINING AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN DREAM.

What if a man who’s never had anything gets a chance to have all he’s ever wanted? Emjindini, the new SABC 1 drama mini-series set to premiere on Sunday 16 September 2018 at 20h00, seeks to answer that question while shining a light on the often ignored troubles faced by the working poor in the forgotten small towns of South Africa.

THE STORY

Set in the historically significant mining town of Barberton, Mpumalanga, Emjindini follows Amos Shabangu (played by Freedom Mswane) as he works daily, chipping away at the walls of a 100-year-old mine, contributing to an economy that has constantly excluded him and his family.

By happenstance, Amos finds a bag of long-buried gold coins following an earth tremor brought on by his own negligence. While the bag seems like the solutions to all his woes, Amos has to think on his feet when a naïve and overzealous colleague, an evil superior and a looming protest threaten his victory.

Emjindi, part of SABC 1’s Woza Nazo batch of new mini-series, was partially shot on location in Barberton (Emjindini) by a youth-owned film production company Image In Imagine.

THE CAST AND CREW

The mini-series is the brainchild of screenwriter, director and editor Magalela Mtshali. The Mpumalanga-born creative who grew up in Nelspruit (Mbombela), a stone’s throw from Barberton, conceived Emjindi as a vehicle to tell fresh, gripping stories set in often-overlooked towns and townships —places like Emjindini.

Emjindini sees actor and all-round performer Freedom Mswane (Ashes to Ashes, The Harvest) in his first top-billed role alongside award-winning actor Sisanda Henna (Tsha Tsha, Invictus, All You Need Is Love), Laki Koza (After 9, A Place Called Home), Sthembile Mhlongo (Gospel Gold) in her first starring role, Nomalanga Nkosi (Scandal!), Zimkhita Kumbaca (Matatiele, Generations: The Legacy), newcomer Zigi Ndlhovu and most importantly the town of Emjindini.

For lead actor Mswane, playing Amos resonated with him due to the uncanny parallels between his own life and that of his character.

“Amos is a father trying his hardest to provide for his kids in an uncertain industry and I am also a dad trying to do the same thing” he says. He also notes that a significant amount of hands-on research into the lives of miners went into his preparation for the role.

Likewise, Mhlongo’s experience playing Nomvula was an eye-opener for her on both and professional and personal level as it gave her some insight into the daily struggles of woman miners.

“I already knew about it but having to actually experience it really opened my mind. [My character] Nomvula is not afraid to express her feelings and emotions, which is nothing like me. Playing her made me realise I have to be more like her” she says.

So follow the cast of characters as they navigate the unraveling depths of Barberton’s mining community.